Nanotechnology is widely perceived as having a huge potential impact on many areas of research and product development. As a result, industry and government are launching an increasing number of investigations in this area. Considering how rapidly scientific developments and practical applications of them are taking place, there is an increasing need to identify the ethical, legal and social implications of nanotechnology while there is still time.

Nanologue’s overarching objective is to facilitate a dialogue among researchers, business and civil society about the potential of nanoscience and nanotechnology (NT) applications to improve the quality of life and to create wealth; and the dialogue is also intended to assess the technology’s potential societal impacts. Based on an intensive dialogue and dissemination process, Nanologue will facilitate the translation of civil society’s ethical, legal and social requirements on NT research into a real competitive advantage for European industry.

Nanologue will identify, the benefits and potential ethical, legal and social impacts of NT applications likely to be rolled out by 2010 by drawing from international projects, studies and expertise. Assisted by an expert advisory board and a series of stakeholder interviews and workshops, the team will further substantiate and validate preliminary findings. Foresight studies will demonstrate 3 plausible and realistic futures of NT.

Results will be disseminated with the help of a comprehensive communication strategy targeting researchers, decision makers in business and politics, educational institutions, media, and civil society. The cooperation with an existing NT web-platform, media-workshops, publicity materials and conference attendance will ensure a broad outreach and further substantiate dialogue. Public research funds, researchers and business will be supported with an interactive tool to quickly consider the ethical, legal and social aspects of NT projects already in the proposal and development phase. More

This project from the 6th Framework Programme is being carried out at EMPA by the Technology and Society Lab and features consortium partners Wuppertal Institute (project coordinator) in Germany, Forum for the Future in the UK and triple innova of Germany.

Financial support: European Commission

Duration: 1/05 to 12/06    

   
Contact: Hans Kastenholz, Andreas Köhler

    
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